Crime Dog
Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff was unanimously voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2023 Class by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.
To be inducted by the Contemporary Committee, candidates must receive 12 of the 16 possible votes. McGriff received 16 of the 16 possible votes. No other player received the required 12 votes. The other players up for induction vote: Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, Albert Belle, Dale Murphy, Don Mattingly, & Curt Schilling.
Mattingly received 8 votes.
Schilling received 7 votes.
Murphy received 6 votes.
Bonds, Belle, Clemens, & Palmeiro received fewer than 4 votes each.
The message was clear from the Contemporary Committee (made up primarily of former players): steroids will hinder your Hall of Fame chances. Bonds, Clemens, & Palmeiro are three of the biggest names in the game to be confirmed to have benefitted from Performance Enhancing Drugs.
How did McGriff earn his induction?
Over his 19-year career, Fred amassed 493 homeruns & 1,550 RBI for six teams: Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Devil Rays, Cubs, & Dodgers.
He was a 5-time All-Star: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, & 2000.
He was a 3-time Silver Slugger: 1989, 1992, 1993.
He was a 2-time Homerun Leader: 1989 & 1992.
He won one World Series title, with the Atlanta Braves in 1995. His longest stint with a single team was with the Braves from 1993-1997. He currently works as the Special Assistant to Baseball Operations for the Atlanta Braves.
Fun Fact: Fred McGriff was drafted & signed by the New York Yankees. He was traded in 1982 to Toronto. McGriff was believed to be blocked by Yankees 1st baseman Don Mattingly at the time. Fred McGriff is being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023. Don Mattingly was on the same ballot but didn’t get enough votes to be inducted.
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